williamson



(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. S. WILLIAMSON. CHECK PUNGH,

1%. 418,905. Patented Jan. 7,1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.,

S. S. WILLIAMSON. CHECK PUNCH.

No. 418,905. Patented Jan. 7,1890..

UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFICE.

DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE LIGHTNING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CHECK PUNCH CHECK-PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,90 5, dated January '7, 1890.

Application filed May 17, 1889. Serial No. 311,157. (No model.)

To (0Z5 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that. I, SAMUEL S. WILLIAMSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at l-lridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Check- Punches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in machines for punching checks, drafts, bonds, and other valuable papers, and has for its object to improve upon the construction of former devices of this character, so as to provide a machine which shall be simple and easy of use, in which the selection and operation of the punches may be readily accomplished, and in which the devices for feeding the check shall be positively actuated in proper time by the punching-arm and without the use of any clamp or similar device; and with these ends in view my invention consists in the de' tails of construction and combination of elements hereinafter described, and then specifically designated by the claims hereunto annexed.

In order that those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may fully understand the construction and operation thereof, I will describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a central longitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3, a plan view; Fig. 4, a plan view with the lever removed, and Fig. 5 a front end elevation.

Like reference-numerals denote the same parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The operative parts of the machine are mounted upon a hollow base 1, preferably of cast metal.

2 is alever pivoted between ears 3 on' the top of the base. Upon the outer end of this lever is a shaft 4, centrally located with respect thereto. Journaled upon this shaft 4 is a rotatable punch-head 5, provided with a handle 6, whereby it may be turned about its axis, and whereby it and the lever may be depressed to effect the perforation of the check.

Arranged upon the periphery of the punchhead are letters or figures intended to be cut by the punch, each of said figures or letters being composed of a series of small punches 7, set in a plate 7 which latter is secured to the head by means of suitable screws. These plates are used as the bases fort-he punches, for the reason that it is nearlyimpossible to so set the punches directly in the metal of the head that they will register perfectly with the die. By mounting the punches for each character upon a plate and then attaching said plate to the head a limited adjustment of the plate and punches may be had.

Immediately behind the punches, or it may be arranged in front of them, if desired, is an index 8, with a pointer 9, the said punches, index, and pointer being so arranged that the conjunction of the pointer with any figure on the index indicates that the punch corresponding to that figure is in cutting position over the die. The die 21 is stationary upon the bed-plate, and consists of .a section of metal having perforations adapted to admit the entrance of all punches which go to make up any of the figures. In fact, the punches are placed upon the head with reference to each one of them registering with one of the perforations. The one die therefore answers for any required number of punches.

10 is a stripper-plate arranged j ust. above the bed and secured to the latter at its rear end. (See Figs. 2 and a.) Said plate has an opening therethrough of substantially the size of the whole surface of the lower die, or it may be furnished with perforations corresponding to those in the die, and the function of this plate is to clear the paper from the punches after the latter have operated upon it. The stripper has also a projecting guide-pin 11, which upon the depression of the punch-head enters one of the series of holes 12 in said head, and thereby insures perfect registry of the punch with the die.

13 is an arm projecting downwardly from the rear end of the lever. To this arm and to a suitable pin or eye on the bed is secured a spring, serving to normally retain the lever in its raised position, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2. The lower end of this arm operates the ment the pawl slides over the ratchet and engages one tooth, ready to move the roll by means thereof at the next upward motion of the lever.

The complementary feeding-roll 15 is journaled in the end of a lever 19, pivoted on top of the stripper-plate, and is normally held against the periphery of the under roll by a small spring 20, against whose action the roll may be raised by depressing the free end of the lever 19.

In the operation of the machine the check is placed between the die and stripper, the upper feed-roll being raised to admit it and then lowered so as to grasp it in conjunction with the lower roll. The punch-head is then rotated upon its axis by means of the handle until the desired character on the index comes into conjunction with the pointer and the punch representing said character is over the die. Then by means of the same handle the lever is depressed and the character cut in the paper by the punches. The cuttings fall freely through the perforations. The spring will then raise the lever, and as this takes place the rotation of the lower feedingroll is effected by the pawl, thereby moving the cheek forward one space and presenting a fresh unperforated surface for the next action of the punch.

I elaim 1. In a check-punch, the combination, with the pivoted lever, of a rotative punch-head journaled upon the end thereof, a series of projecting pins arranged in the form of charaeters and set upon the periphery of said punch-head, an index for the proper location of the characters, an operating-handle projecting from the head, and a lower die, the Same consisting of a perforated plate whereto each of the punch-outlined characters on the punch-head is adapted, substantially as set forth. v

2. In a check-punch, the combination, with the pivoted lever and the rotative punchhead and punches mounted thereon, of a downwardly-projecting arm at the rear end of the lever, a bell-crank pawl operated by said arm, and a feed-wheel having a ratchet actuated by said pawl, substantially as set forth. ,7

3. The combination, with the pivoted lever, the rotative punch-head and the punches, and the lower die adapted to said punches,

of the down\vardly-extended arm upon the" lever, the lower feed-wheel and ratchet actuated from said arm, the upper feed-wheel, and a spring-actuated lever mounted upon the stripper and having said upper feed-u he 31 journaled in the end thereof, substantially 

